Metal panels



July 22, 1969 M. PIGET 3,455,409

METAL PANELS Filed June a, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MAURICE P\GET MM; rf/flmz/ A TGRN E YS July 22, 1969 M. PIGET 3,456,409

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ATTOR EYS United States Patent 3,456,409 METAL PANELS Maurice Piget, 2 Rue Breuvery, Saint- Germain-en-Laye, France Filed June 5, 1967, Ser. No. 643,555 Claims priority, application France, June 6, 1966,

Int. on. iron 2/08 U.S. Cl. 52282 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to the construction of metal panels. According to the disclosure the panel comprises a rectangular member which is made of flat or corrugated sheet-metal and which is engaged on each of its two longitudinal sides by a section or edge member more particularly of aluminum having two slots or recesses at right angles to each other, the sheet-metal member being secured in one of the two slots or recesses of the edge member by resilient connecting members having three faces.

In a first embodiment, the rectangular member comprises a single sheet-metal member having four bent edges.

In a second embodiment, the rectangular member includes a second sheet-metal member which is bent only along its two longtiudinal edges and has strengthening ribs parallel to the bent edges, like bent edges of the two sheet-metal members being secured in the slot or recess in the edge member by the same resilient connecting members having three faces. The advantages of this second embodiment is improved heat insulation and increased strength.

An extra-long panel can be obtained by the assembly together of two or more panels of the same width (having one or two sheet-metal members) in end-to-end relationship.

In such an assembly the gaps between the ends of adjacent edge or section members are staggered with respect to the gaps between the edges of adjacent panels, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing any direct connection with the edge or section member of adjacent panels.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention, having a single sheet-metal member;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an end-toend assembly of panels to provide an extra-long panel construction the gaps between edge or section members being staggered in relation to the gaps between the sheetmetal members;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention comprising two sheet-metal members; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the assembly on each of the edge or section members of a single sheetmetal member, with another sheet-metal member introduced at right-angles into the second slot or recess in the edge or section member.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawings the metal panel comprises two spaced elongated edge or section members each having two longitudinally extending slots or recesses 1 and 2 at right angles to each other. The slots or recesses 1 ice are. positioned facing each other to support a sheet-metal member 3 which has its sides bent at right angles to form bent edges or flanges 4 and 5. The bent edges 4 along its longitudinal sides are positioned in slots or recesses 1 and retained therein by the resilient connecting member 9 which is provided with three separate faces.

In FIGURE 2 an elongated panel construction is obtained by the assembly end-to-end of the metal panels. The gaps between the ends of adjacent edge or section members is staggered with respect to the gaps between the edgs of adjacent sheet-metal members 3 so that each member 3 is connected to a pair of adjacent edge or section members by the resilient connecting member 9. This assembly avoids the necessity of providing a special or direct connection between the edge or section members.

In FIGURE 3 the panel construction is similar to that of FIGURE 1. However, to improve heat insulation and/ or to provide increased strength a second sheet-metal member 6 is provided within member 3 and having its longitudinal sides bent to provide bent edges or flanges 7 also retained by the same resilient connecting member 9. One or more strengthening ribs 8 are provided parallel to flanges 7.

In FIGURE 4 a panel construction similar to FIG- URE 1 is shown having additional sheet-metal members 30! positioned in the second slot or recess 2 of each edge or section member and retained therein by further resilient connecting members 9a.

I claim:

1. In combination: a rectangular sheet-like panel having opposite edges each formed with a projecting flange thereon, a pair of longitudinally extending edge members each having a cross section to establish a pair of channelshaped inlets with mutually facing sides extending to an opening, means defining a lip projecting into each of said inlets from one of said sides and at said opening, the opposite edges of said panels being received in two of said inlets with said pair of edge members arranged to position said two inlets in mutually facing relation, so that the pro jecting flanges on said panels are spaced inwardly within said inlets relative to said lips and so that said flanges and said lips extend toward one another, and resilient con necting members securing said panels to said edge members, said connecting members each comprising a spring plate having a flat central portion engaging said panel and a pair of diverging leg portions extending from said central portion, the free ends of said leg portions engaging said one side of said two inlets respectively, said connecting members being further positioned between said lip and said flange in each of said two inlets and urging said panel into contact with the side of each of said inlets opposite said lips, whereby separation of said panels from said edge members is positively prevented by the presence of said connecting members between said flanges and said 1i s.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 including a plurality of said panels in end-for-end relation and a plurality of said edge members also in end-for-end relation, the ends of said panels being staggered with respect to the ends of said edge members.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said panel is formed of corrugated sheet metal and said edge members are aluminum.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the inlets of each edge member are mutually perpendicular and including further panels and connecting members in the other of said inlets in each of said pair of edge members.

3 4 5. The apparatus recited in claim 1 including another FOREIGN PATENTS panel receivable between said edge members in co-exten- 1 123 752 6/1956 France sive relation with said first mentioned panel,'said two 3/1928 Germany panels defining a hollow section between said edge mem- 773,904 5/1957 Great Britain bers- 5 795,078 5/1958 Great Britain.

References cued 363,344 10/1938 Italy. UNITED STATES PATENTS ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner 1,699,013 1/1929 Nelson 52502 US Cl XR 2,019,230 10/1935 Lyon 52 495X 10 623 625 2,481,794 9/1949 Stitt 52502 X 2,680,887 6/1954- Rimmeir 52625 X 3,055,467 9/1962 Peek et a1 52455 

